Wireless power antenna winding including heat pipe and method therefor

Abstract

An inductor at a wireless power antenna includes a conductive winding. A portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe. The heat pipe employs thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor. A heat sink is coupled to the heat pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless power antenna device comprising:
 an inductor including a conductive winding, wherein at least a portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor; and 
 a heat sink coupled to the heat pipe. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is arranged in a continuous loop. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes two ends. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises more than one winding turn. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises less than one complete winding turn. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a source antenna to transmit power to a target antenna. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a target antenna at a data processing device, the target antenna to receive power from a source antenna. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises a fluid to fluid heat exchanger. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 providing an inductor at a wireless power antenna, wherein at least a portion of a conductive winding of the inductor consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor; 
 providing a heat sink for dissipating heat conducted by the heat pipe; and 
 incorporating the antenna at a wireless power charging system. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe is arranged in a continuous loop. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe includes two ends. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portion comprises more than one winding turn. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the portion comprises less than one complete winding turn. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna is a source antenna to transmit power to a target antenna. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antenna is a target antenna at a data processing device, the target antenna to receive power from a source antenna. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the heat sink comprises a fluid to fluid heat exchanger. 
     
     
       19. A wireless power system comprising:
 an antenna, the antenna including:
 an inductor comprising a conductive winding, wherein at least a portion of the conductive winding consists of a heat pipe, the heat pipe employing thermal conductivity and phase transition to transfer heat from the inductor; and 
 a heat sink coupled to the heat pipe; and 
 
 a wireless power controller to supply radio frequency power to the antenna. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the heat pipe includes an electrically non-conductive portion that separates one conductive portion from another conductive portion.